UNTAPABLE rebounded off a fifth-place finish against males in her last start to hold off Sweet Reason for a length victory in the $1 million Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing last Saturday.

Ridden by Rose Napravnik for trainer Steve Asmussen as the 124lb co-topweight and 2/5 favourite, Untapable tracked early leaders Jojo Warrior and Cassatt, for the first half-mile in the nine and a half furlong race.

Untapable, who was never far back, began her winning move rounding the second turn and finally took over with two furlongs to go. After drifting in sharply in the final furlong, she moved back out and held off the late challenge of Sweet Reason.

The Cotillion was the third Grade 1 victory this year for the daughter of Tapit bred in Kentucky by her owners Winchell Thoroughbreds, having previously won the Longines Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose Stakes. She has now won seven of 10 starts and earned $1,934,725.

The complexion of the Cotillion changed when Grade I winner Stopchargingmaria was scratched.

“I was extremely pleased to have her back in the winner’s circle where we feel she belongs,” Asmussen said. “I think a lot of little things added up to (the Haskell defeat) not being her day. I was very proud that she came out of a tough race like that, tough circumstances, to win a Grade 1. She beat very good fillies. This is her third Grade 1 of the year.”

The trainer said the Cotillion should set Untapable up for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and that she would ship to California on 21st September to prepare for the race at Santa Anita Park.

The Cotillion win most likely sewed up the three-year-filly championship for Untapable.

“To me this wins solidifies the Eclipse,” said winning owner Ron Winchell. “She dug in and it was good to get it done after the Haskell Invitational. This was a big exhale after the Haskell and glad to get it done.”